Edinburgh Festivals Daily Guide - 13 August
Latest Reviews
It has been a pioneer of site-specific theatre since 1996; but in those 17 years, the acclaimed Grid Iron of Edinburgh can never have worked in a space so strange, so vast, and so awe-inspiring as the huge Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho. By the time we arrive from the city centre, we’ve already learned that in this fictional world we are among the last groups of migrants leaving an Old Earth fast becoming uninhabitable through climate change and social meltdown.
The blurb says he “dares say what everyone is thinking”, but unless you are thinking about psychopathic nannies, talentless terrified singers and crazy criminals then he is not saying what you are thinking. We are vaguely in League of Gentlemen country here, with a psychotic nanny who has, apparently, looked after many of us in our childhood.
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Hide AdThere’s a persistent low humming noise in the Festival Theatre as the audience gathers for Opera de Lyon’s production of Fidelio. It’s not a malfunction of the air conditioning, but a hint that this version of Beethoven’s only opera is set on the spaceship Aniara, and that its prisoner crew – the cast list of Fidelio – is destined to be hurtled beyond the outermost reaches of the solar system to an oblivion we must only imagine.
Latest Guides
The Scotsman’s team of respected critics sees a huge amount of shows during Edinburgh Festival season. Here you will find an overview of every review published this year, arranged by star rating.
Latest Features
From Fringe babies to comedian husbands and operatic roots, variety stars Lili La Scala and Ali McGregor find they have much in common
After years of stigma, feminism is back in the news, and Bridget Christie has turned her anger into a force for good. Kirstin Innes finds out more
From the Blog…
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Hide AdBrian Watkins: Fear and longing in Edinburgh, a city of ghosts
This is my first visit to Edinburgh. I’m here as a playwright. To my delight, I’ve discovered a city of ghosts. Not the camp that’s pitched by people in capes on the High Street. But rather a city that reverberates with story. The kind where the characters linger far after their tales are told.
Ivan Hanzen: The Fringe is an experience like no other
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Hide AdThe first time I stepped onto the Royal Mile was in 2006. I’d just arrived from Copenhagen and had come to the festival with a group of friends from the Lecoq School in Paris – having just graduated a little over a month before.
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Daily Deals
Half-price Edinburgh Festival tickets
Today’s selection of half-price ticket deals for Edinburgh Festival shows, from The Scotsman and WOW247.
Books, Borders and Bikes is a unique literary festival held in the historical surroundings of Traquair House in the Scottish Borders, with 2013 marking the fourth year of the annual event. In anticipation of the festival, we are offering readers a special 2-for-1 offer on day and weekend passes.
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